Thoughts on Dumbledore [SPOILERS]

[bkdelong]

I was just listening to melissatlc being interviewed on CNN and I thought I'd put down some thoughts.



I'll admit I haven't re-read the death scene yet as I am "reviewing" the book on CD and wanted to wait to see how it sounds. However, I agree with Melissa that in many respects I knew Dumbledore would die. Well, I knew before the book's release due to sucky spoilers but I had even thought it might be him prior to that - and thankfully, knowing he died had no effect on my experience. I sobbed heavily while siting in carleton97's computer chair from the end of "The Cave" until the end of the book...trying to keep people from waking up on the nearby furniture. So much so that I went into the back room where wkdelong and kiekre were sleeping, to hold my wife in a tight embrace for a long time.And in a house with 5 women, I think I was the only one who sobbed though doctoraicha claimed she was trying to keep from spoiling anything. Yes, I truly AM a strong NF.

Anyway, I may revise this once I re-read the section but I couldn't help but think that Dumbledore was preparing Harry for his death. Making extra effort to ask the Dursleys to let Harry stay at Privet Drive one more time, giving Harry exposure to the various Voldemort-related memories and various other comments and advice from him.

I honestly think Dumbledore knew about Snape's Unbreakable Vow and that in order to keep suspicion off Snape from the various Death Eaters and Voldemort himself....no doubt for the Book 7 plot, he allowed himself to be killed....and even asked to be killed by Snape. I believe there is some sort of Unbreaklable Vow between Snape & Dumbledore or some powerful "wizard contract" magic which is why DD trusts him so.

It worked out well that Snape was also fulfilling an Unbreakable Vow and spared Draco from committing such a horrible murder he obviously did not want to do. I don't know what he was more afraid of - being killed by Dumbledore, (though DD would never kill him), being killed by Voldemort, or actually succeeding and killing one of the most beloved wizards of all time.

I think in the next book we'll learn how portraits come to be and the degree to which Dumbledore's essence remains in portrait form. I wonder if it's part of taking the job as a Headmaster that upon their death they essentially get stored in a living pensieve. I also wonder if Dumbledore's portrait resides elsewhere as well. They obviously retain memories, conscious and thought moreso than mere wizarding photos because they are able to give advice and such. I hope we'll learn the different degrees of portaits/photographs etc.

ETA: Dumbledore DID say "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next adventure,". My feeling is Dumbledore is preparing and organizing for just that.


More as I think about it. Jo's interviews with Time, with the 70 cub reporters on Sat 7/16 and Melissa/Emerson have a lot of answers as well.

Comments

[bluemeanies4.livejournal.com]

I would love it if Dumbledore could see almost everywhere through Chocolate Frog Cards (after all, Bill said Dumbledore didn't care as long as they didn't take him off of them). That is just a weird thought, though.

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it is weird however it would be a major PITA to figure out where a card is at a given time :)

[everlastingwhy.livejournal.com]

I confess that I didn't cry- I was so prepared to lose Dumbledore that it was such a huge relief to ONLY lose Dumbledore that I felt light and airy. I mean...I read the whole book cringing and chanting in my head, please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me, I'll be good, Jo, I swear...

[harpinred.livejournal.com]

Alas, we were sobbing together. I was dried up for a few pages, and then Hagrid came down the asile carrying Dumbledore's body, and I siriusly lost it again.

You make an excellent point with the portraits! I can't wait to see how lifelike his turns out to be.